The Japanese sword is famously both the symbol and instrument of Japanese military prowess.

Less known, at least in the West, is its role as a fashion accessory or status symbol. And more than the weapon itself, it was the sword's metal fittings-from the hand guard to the small decorative plates on the hilt-that reflected the complexities of Samurai life.

Some fittings were meant to convey the honor and self-control expected of a Samurai while on official duty, while other, more flamboyant ones reflected his leisure-time persona as "man about town".

Later, when the wearing of the swords spread beyond the Samurai class, both the decorative function of the fittings and the variety of their designs sharply increased, leading to some of the most sophisticated and accomplished metalwork ever created.

This book reviews the enormous collection DONATED to the Boston Museum of Fine Art

Soft cover book of 256 pages with over 250 stunning colour photographs

Brand NEW book opened only to scan a few pictures so sold as "USED" but it's damned hard to fault (picture # 1 is actual book on offer)

SIZE of book = 8 1/2" x 9 1/4".

My collector friends and I refer to this indispensable reference as "SWORD PORNOGRAPHY"

It contains images of fabulously valuable Samurai Art sword fittings that few of us could ever AFFORD (Kodogu that seldom, if ever, come onto the market could we afford them ?)

MUCH of this "stuff" was made exclusively for the Samurai ELITE

BUY THIS BOOK ....you will not be disappointed and may even contemplate a visit to Boston Museum of Fine Art ....we did !! :-)